David w



(No Model.)

D. W.- HUGHES.

Breech Loading Ordnance. No. 242,538. Patente gi June 7,1881.

ATTORNEY N. PETERS "Mo-Lithograph" Wmhlnglum D C UNITED STATES PATENT ()FFICE.

DAVID W. HUGHES, OF HAMILTON, OHIO, ASSIGNOR OF THREE-FOURTHS TO JAMES E.'CAMPBELL AND FREDERICK B. LANDIS, BOTH OF SAME PLACE.

BREECH-LOADING ORDNANCE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 242,538, dated June 7, 1881.

Application filed March 10,1881. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, DAVID W. HUGHES, of Hamilton, Butler county, Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Breech-Loading Ordnance, of which thefollowing is a specification.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a vertical longitudinal section of the breech end of a gun constructed upon my improved plan Fig. 2, a rear-end elevation of the same; Fig. 3, a horizontal section of the same 'Fig. 4, a plan showing breech-plug in place; Fig. 5, a side elevation, part section, of the breechplug; Fig. 6, a front elevation of the breechplug, and Fig. 7 a rear elevation of the same.

In Figs. 1, 2, and 3, O D is the bore of the gun, extending entirely through the breech, of uniform diameter, or chambered, if desired.

F is a chamber or enlargement of the bore, near the breech, the rear end of the chamber *bein g in the form of a square shoulder within the breech. The front end of the chamber is formed with a beveled or curved wall, as shown, so that no obstructing shoulder prevents the easy passage of the cartridge or charge past the chamber into the bore. The rear unchambered portion of the breech is partly cut away into .two ports, I.

The breech-bore D may be of the same caliber as the' bore or chamber of the gun, or it may be larger; but the bore of the breechchamber F must exceed the bore of the breech, so as to form the breech-shoulder V.

In Fig. 3, O is the breech-block, adapted to fit the bore of the gun and breech (J D. L is its face-flange, J its knob, and K its twistingpin. Two lugs, M, are formed upon it in such shape as to freely enter the ports I and be revolved into the uncut portion of the chamber F, and thus engage with the shoulders V. A portion of the face-flange L, cut away, as at P, in connection with the stop H, serves in an obvious manner to limit the rotary motion of the breech-plug. The breech-plugis light and easily handled. It is very portable, and allows an essential part of the gun to be sequestered in case of capture.

G is a small pin driven from the outside into the chamber F, so that its inner end is flush with thebore of the chamber, while its outer end protrudes a trifle. If this pin be driven flush with the outside of the gun, its inner end will become an obstruction in the chamber F, and will prevent the essential rotation of the breechplug, thus disabling the gun in such manner as to be irreparable in the enemys hands in action.

The number of the pins H may be increased, if desired, and they may be located at any point where they will obstruct the rotation of the breech-plug. A special tool may be used to replace the pin when driven in.

Q is a bolt projecting forward from the breech-plug 0. Upon it is fitted a washer, R, which, when the breech-plug is in place, forms the base of the bore of the gun. The bolt Q may project in front of the washer, as shown, and form a spit for the cartridge. In light guns this spit allows the act of loading and breechin g to be combined.

Between the rear surface of the washer R and the front of the breech-plug O is disposed the cushion U, which is so constructed. that longitudinal compression will produce diametrical expansion. I prefer to construct it of india-rubber. It is made to enter the bore of the gun freely. The washer R is resisted in its rearward 1notion, under the action of the charge, only by the cushion U, and as a consequence the effect of the charge will be to compress the cushion and to expand it into a perfect gas-check. The pin T in the bolt Q holds the washer in place.

The washer R is cup-shaped, as shown, and S is a hole so located in its rim that it will coincide with the vent of the gun when the breechplug is in firing position. The compression of the cushion and slight retreat of the washer serves to cover the vent at the instant of explosion and during the existence of pressure within the gun.

So far as this present specification is concerned, 1 do not make any claim herein to the method of forming the breech-chamber'by boring outward and leaving shoulder forming material in the rear of the breech solid with the metal of the gun nor to the arrangement of the ventway in the washer R, for the purpose of permitting the vent to be closed by a rotation of the breech-plug nor to the arrange- I00 ment of a frontal spit projecting forward from the breech-plug. This disclaimer is to have reference to this specification and these Let ters Patent only, and is not to affect other claims made by me in other specifications and patents.

I claim as my invention 1. In breech-loading ordnance, the combination of bore 0, chamber F, having curved front wall and lug-portsl I, the stop-pin H,fixed in the breech, the breech-plug O, lugs M, cushion U, bolt Q, washer R, fitted to slide upon said bolt,

"knob J, lever K, and'fiange L,ll1aving gap P,

2. In breech-loading ordnance, the combination, with a movable breech, of a gun having' one or more holes leading from the exterior of the gun to a point or points in the path of the breech movement, and a pin in such hole or holes, said pins filling said holes tightly and projectingoutside the surface of the gun, so that they may be driven inward to form obstructing disabling-pins, substantially as specified.

DAVID HUGHES.

Witnesses:

J. W. SEE, JOHN LORENZ. 

